Read More

Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said the lingering threat had also hampered the process of recovering bodies.

"At this moment in time, the fire is still ongoing, so it is not safe to take people out of the tower," she told reporters.

The police's casualty bureau was said to have received 5,000 calls during the chaotic first day of the investigation.

Around 400 people were reported missing, but Mr Cundy downplayed the figure, saying it added up to more people than actually lived in the block. One person was reported missing 46 times, he added.

Earlier, the scale of the investigation facing emergency services was set out by London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton.

She said: "This is a large building, there will be a large amount of building work required internally.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

"Before we do that, we are going to utilise some specialist dog training teams that we have, that will go through the building and the surrounding area looking for any identification of people."

She said "a good half" of the building had yet to be searched in detail, adding: "It is the upper floors which will be more challenging and will need some additional shoring up for us to be able to get in there."

Ms Cotton added: "This will be a detailed fingertip search.

"Obviously this will be a very slow and painstaking process."

More than £1 million has been raised to help those affected by the fire, with more than 60 tonnes of donations collected by one local mosque.

Police urged anyone who is still concerned about a missing loved one to visit the reception area at the Westway Sports Centre, west London, or ring the casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.

Those who have reported a friend or relative as missing but since been reunited with them are also asked to get in touch with police.